Final answer:
Territorial conflicts among religious groups occur due to scarce resources, religious schisms, and intertwined religion and politics. Religious leaders may use faith-based appeals to mobilize groups into conflict, and religious convictions can sometimes justify violent means in the eyes of certain groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Territorial conflicts arise among religious groups for a variety of deep-rooted reasons. The competition for scarce resources, as well as differences in religious beliefs and practices, can ignite or exacerbate strife among groups with distinct religious identities. Differences in theology and practice have led to schisms within religions, setting the stage for potential conflict over religious and geopolitical claims.
Religious leaders sometimes frame conflicts as struggles to defend the faith against external threats, which can mobilize believers to unify against perceived enemies. Historical examples include territorial disputes after the establishment of the state of Israel and the rallying of Muslims by figures such as Osama bin Laden. The intertwined nature of religion and politics further complicates these conflicts, as seen in the longstanding conflict over Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
Furthermore, conflict theorists critique how religious institutions can endorse the status quo, affecting power dynamics and potentially fomenting strife. Notably, some religious nationalist groups, driven by their convictions, have historically engaged in conflicts, believing their causes justify any means.